The Your Future – Taking the Next Steps program is aimed at people over 18 with an intellectual disability and autism who have left school. It helps young people to connect with others and build on their social networks, with the aim of increasing their engagement in the community.
Why is employment and community engagement important?
Employment is important for everyone: it gives us a sense of self-worth, purpose, financial security, relationships and friends.
However, people with intellectual disability and/or autism are one of the most underemployed groups in Australia, with only 16% of people employed in the open market, and only 5% who have paid work as their main source of income.
ConneXtions has been working in the community to build individual and workplace capacity. The focus is on recognising each person’s unique skills, exploring the impact of valued roles, and creating connections with employers and community spaces where paid employment could be a real outcome.
We work with individuals to match the person’s interests and skills with the needs of businesses, and have had success in creating casual, part-time and in some cases, full-time, work.
We utilise a customised employment and community development approach to job seeking, job networking and job finding.
Mentoring and coaching
Who you know is key to finding a job, but often people with intellectual disability and autism do not have the same opportunities to make social connections and develop networks.
This program includes exploring customised employment options, and working with individuals and their networks to enhance understanding and pathways to create meaningful job opportunities.
We will work with individuals to:
Identify strengths, interests and preferred environments;
Explore key areas of interest for work including preferred environments, workplaces, industries and/or tasks;
Identify and engage with networks, including those within the community and local businesses;
Put together a work profile;
Job plan, including preparing for the job role;
Trial workplaces; and,
Identify the support required.
Skills for life and wellbeing
We have developed this three-day-a-week program that supports over 18s to think about work as a real opportunity.
It also focusses on:
Developing skills in making life choices;
Expanding and developing friendships;
Making the most of what community has to offer;
Being safe and speaking out; and,
Developing mindfulness and strategies to improve health and wellbeing.
Expressions of Interest
Expression of interests are being taken for the three-day-a-week program to commence 28th January, 2026, in Wodonga. The program will be held from 9am to 3pm, Wednesdays to Fridays.
A one day a week transition to Next Steps will be offered in 2025 to commence Friday, November 7th to Friday, 19th December (9am – 3pm). This will provide an opportunity for those ready to commence to get a head start on the year and develop their individualised plan.
